OSERS NIDRR Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects Centers Program Minority Serving Institution Field Initiated Projects Program CFDA Number 84.133G 4 (Research) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this grant opportunity?

This is a discretionary research grant competition offered by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), through the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). It falls under the Field Initiated (FI) Projects program and specifically the Minority Serving Institution (MSI) FI Projects competition for research grants.

2) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The research grant track is identified as CFDA 84.133G-4.

3) What is the main purpose of the program?

The central goal is to support disability and rehabilitation research that leads to practical methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technologies that help people with disabilities (especially people with the most severe disabilities) achieve fuller inclusion and integration in society. The notice also links the work to improving the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

4) Is this program intended to support practical outcomes or purely academic research?

Based on the notice description, the program emphasizes practical, real-world outcomes: methods, procedures, and technologies that improve rehabilitation services and outcomes, rather than work that remains purely academic.

5) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is intentionally limited. Only minority entities and Indian tribes are eligible to apply, as authorized by section 21(b)(2)(A) of the Rehabilitation Act.

6) What counts as a "minority entity" for eligibility purposes?

The notice explains that a minority entity includes historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs), American Indian tribal colleges and universities, and other institutions of higher education where minority student enrollment is at least 50 percent.

7) Why is eligibility limited to minority entities and Indian tribes?

The competition is designed to build research capacity within historically underrepresented institutions and communities, while also producing strong disability and rehabilitation research results.

8) Are there different award types under the MSI FI Projects umbrella?

Yes. NIDRR offers two related award types: research grants and development grants under the MSI FI Projects umbrella.

9) Which award type is this specific opportunity?

This specific opportunity is the research grant track (CFDA 84.133G-4). The development grant track is listed separately under CFDA 84.133G-5.

10) Do research grants and development grants use the same selection criteria?

No. The notice states that the selection criteria differ between the two tracks, which is why applicants must clearly identify the correct track in the application.

11) How should applicants indicate whether they are applying for a research grant or a development grant?

Applicants must clearly label within the application whether they are applying for a research grant or a development grant. The notice states that NIDRR will review the application only under the designation chosen by the applicant.

12) What happens if an application does not clearly state whether it is a research grant or a development grant?

The notice indicates the application can be ruled ineligible and not reviewed at all if it fails to clearly state whether it is a research grant or a development grant.

13) How many awards were expected under this competition?

The opportunity anticipated a very limited number of awards: expected awards were listed as 1.

14) What was the estimated total funding available?

The estimated total funding was $200,000.

15) What was the maximum award amount (ceiling)?

The award ceiling was listed as $200,000.

16) Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning the applicant is expected to contribute non-federal resources in accordance with the official notice terms.

17) Where can applicants find the exact cost share or matching rules?

The synopsis notes that matching rules can be detailed and directs applicants to rely on the Federal Register notice and the application package instructions for the exact requirements, including what counts as match and how it must be documented.

18) How were applications required to be submitted?

Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using the downloadable application package and the Grants.gov Apply workflow.

19) Could applications be submitted by email?

No. The notice emphasizes that applications cannot be submitted by email.

20) How should applicants search for the opportunity in Grants.gov?

Applicants were instructed to search within Grants.gov by CFDA number without the alpha suffix. In other words, search for "84.133" rather than "84.133G."

21) When was the opportunity originally posted and when were applications made available?

The original posting date was November 19, 2013, and applications were made available the same day (November 19, 2013).

22) Was there a pre-application meeting?

Yes. The notice announced a pre-application meeting on December 10, 2013, offered by conference call.

23) What support was offered during the pre-application meeting?

The pre-application meeting included a scheduled group session and additional time set aside for individual telephone consultations with NIDRR staff to provide information and technical assistance.

24) What was the application deadline?

The deadline was corrected in the notice history. While some parts of the listing show February 18, 2014, a Federal Register correction clarified that the deadline for transmittal of applications should read January 21, 2014.

25) Why do different deadlines appear in the listing?

The synopsis explains that a Federal Register correction changed the deadline. The correction is associated with notice document 2013-27559 and specifies the change on page 69398, clarifying January 21, 2014 as the true deadline.

26) Who should be contacted for Grants.gov technical submission issues?

For technical submission issues, the listing provides the Grants.gov systems administrator contact: Julius Cotton (ED Grants.gov/FIND Systems Admin), phone 202-245-6288, email EducationGrantInquiries@ed.gov.

27) Who should be contacted for program or content questions about the grant?

For substantive program questions, the program contact listed is Marlene Spencer at the U.S. Department of Education, phone 202-245-7532, email marlene.spencer@ed.gov.

28) Which source controls if there is a conflict between the synopsis and official requirements?

The synopsis states that for full details beyond the summary (including eligibility nuances, required components, priorities, performance measures, and the exact selection criteria), applicants should refer to the official Federal Register application notice, which is considered the controlling version of the announcement.

29) What kinds of additional details are expected to be in the Federal Register notice beyond the synopsis?

The synopsis indicates that the Federal Register notice contains full details such as eligibility nuances, required components, priorities, performance measures, and the exact selection criteria for the research track.

30) What law is this program tied to?

The notice ties the program to improving the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.